Oregon’s running back room has become one of the easiest groups in the country to trust, and CBS Sports thinks it belongs near the top of the national pile.
In Blake Brockermeyer’s ranking of the top 10 running back rooms in college football, the Ducks checked in at No. 3. That’s a strong nod for a unit that’s being driven by two sophomores, Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr., both of whom flashed big-time ability in their first season in Eugene and are expected to keep climbing in 2026.
The appeal is obvious: Davison and Hill bring different looks, and Oregon can lean on that contrast to keep defenses guessing. Together, they piled up more than 1,500 scrimmage yards and 21 total touchdowns in 2025, giving Dan Lanning’s staff exactly the kind of ground-game punch it wants.
Davison was the hammer. He ran for 667 yards and a team-best 15 touchdowns, which ranked as the second-most by an Oregon freshman tailback ever, behind only Royce Freeman’s 18 scores in 2014. Running backs coach Ra'Shaad Samples saw what he had right away and wasted no time using him in short-yardage situations.
“The Ducks return two impressive sophomores in Jordan Davison and future superstar Dierre Hill, who should form an electric duo in the Big Ten,” Brockermeyer wrote. “Davison averaged 5.9 yards per touch with 15 rushing touchdowns and offers a nice blend of power, speed, vision and cutback ability.”
Hill gave Oregon a different kind of threat. He finished his freshman year with 656 rushing yards and five touchdowns, doing it on 38 fewer carries than Davison.
His calling card is speed, but the open-field burst and agility are what really make him dangerous. He also got some work as a returner in the spring game, though the results there were mixed.
“Hill has barely scratched the surface of his potential and averaged 8.75 yards per carry,” Brockermeyer wrote. “He has home-run speed and excels in Oregon's outside-zone scheme and on jet sweeps for huge gains. Hill also has good power and a nice stiff-arm and projects as a future NFL star.”
Oregon was the highest-ranked Big Ten team in CBS Sports’ running back-room rankings. Miami and Texas Tech were the only teams placed ahead of the Ducks.
USC came in at No. 5 with King Miller and Waymond Jordan leading the way, while Ohio State landed at No. 9 behind Bo Jackson and Ja'Kobi Jackson. Oregon will see both of those programs on the road this season.
There’s also more depth coming into the picture. Da'Jaun Riggs is back, and the newcomers could make this room even deeper. Colorado transfer Simeon Price appears to be in the mix for the No. 3 job, while freshmen Brandon Smith and Tradarian Ball also pushed for playing time during the spring.
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